John Higman Hawke

WESTERLY - John Higman Hawke, 90, died Saturday, June 27, in Westerly. Born Jan. 17, 1925 in New London, Conn., he was the son of Edwin D. and Ruth (Bindloss) Hawke. John was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy (McPeak); and son, David Hawke; and he is survived by his brother, Bill Hawke, of Essex; sister-in-law, Mellicent; cousin, Shelley White; niece, Tracy Perrapato; nephew, Christopher Hawke, and their children; and his faithful friends, David Rathbun and John Livingston; and care-giver, Bette Jo Brown.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, John left Westerly High School and enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on several different submarines in the Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1945. After the war, he enrolled in Rhode Island State College and, upon graduation, joined Shell Chemical, where he spent his entire career. While with Shell, John and his family moved to over 20 postings around the country.

John recently made a generous donation to the Westerly Land Trust for the establishment of an in-town land preserve near his childhood home on Cross Street in Westerly.

Boating was his total joy and his favorite boats were "Bagatelle" and "Cricket". Active in the Submarine Veterans' Association, John was a member of many different clubs and organizations, among them the Watch Hill Yacht Club, where he supported the one-design racing programs, and the Westerly High School Sailing Team, and was just honored by election as an Honorary Member, Off Soundings Club, Cruising Club of America, and San Francisco Yacht Club.

A memorial service will be held at the Watch Hill Chapel on Sunday, July 19, at 3 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to the WHYC Sailing Association (a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit entity), P.O. Box 2933, Westerly, RI 02891, for the benefit of the Westerly High School Sailing Team.